The Town of Salem is raising awareness about a concerning rise in property fraud cases, where scammers illegally transfer ownership of properties by forging deeds and recording them with the Registry of Deeds—making the fraudulent transaction appear legitimate.

A key tool available to residents is the Property Fraud Alert system, offered through the Registry of Deeds. By signing up for this free service, property owners will receive real-time email notifications if any documents are recorded under their name, providing early warning of potentially fraudulent activity. You can find a link to access this service on the Town Assessing webpage.